After 200 meetings held in 60 Indian cities through the year, the campaign to turn India’s G20 presidency into a global triumph has reached fever pitch in the run-up to the leaders’ summit this weekend.
Delhi has been adorned with huge billboards and posters - displaying Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s image alongside a message welcoming delegates - signifying India’s readiness to embrace the world.
Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and China’s Premier Li Qiang will represent their countries instead, but they may not have the political heft to make last-minute concessions without consulting their leaders.
Instead, they blame industrialised countries for the crisis and demand that they take on a bigger share of the burden and commit money, technology and infrastructure to help them cut emissions.
Analysts say that despite pressure from activists and rights groups, Western leaders may not raise this issue at the talks in India - which is seen as an indispensable ally in attempts to contain China’s rise.
With Mr Modi taking foreign policy to smaller Indian towns and cities through G20 events, the stakes are high for him both at home and in the global political order.
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